Feature on LaMichael James

#2
#2
Bellotti arrived in a limousine. “So, you want to be a Duck?” he asked James. “What’s it going to take for you to become a Duck?”

Shocking
 
#4
#4
Pretty good story. I fully expect Lache Seastrunk to be better than James though.
 
#7
#7
It made it difficult for him to lock down what little in-state talent Oregon produces. He let Ndamukong Suh get away to Nebraska.

Belotti's recruiting pitch was basically "you're from Oregon, therefore you're going to play for Oregon football."

Riley, on the other hand has been able to combine unsung local talent, Juco transfers and diamonds in the rough into a solid backbone for a team. Only he's never going to get blue chippers to Corvallis. If you combined the two recruiting philosophies, you'd have a much better football program.
 
#8
#8
milohimself said:
It made it difficult for him to lock down what little in-state talent Oregon produces. He let Ndamukong Suh get away to Nebraska.

Belotti's recruiting pitch was basically "you're from Oregon, therefore you're going to play for Oregon football."

Riley, on the other hand has been able to combine unsung local talent, Juco transfers and diamonds in the rough into a solid backbone for a team. Only he's never going to get blue chippers to Corvallis. If you combined the two recruiting philosophies, you'd have a much better football program.
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I meant that it worked in that one specific instance for getting LaMichael.
 
#9
#9
Was he somewhat unsung coming out of Texas like the Rodgers bros?
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#15
#15
Bumi said:
Hey now, don't knock Belotti. He practically gave Oregon football life(alongside Phil Knight).
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I don't mean to knock Bellotti, it's just I think Chip is a better coach. But yeah, Oregon Football owes Bellotti alot. More then naming that distinctive Oregon font "Bellotti Bold", haha.
 
#16
#16
Oregon's deficiency keeping them from reaching that elite level has been trouble getting elite offensive linemen.

Bellotti definitely got some very high quality skill position guys. If I'm not mistaken all of his QB's at Oregon were drafted. Some of that credit belongs to Jeff Tedford. Then you've got guys like Patrick Chung, Jonathon Stewart, etc. on back to guys like Reuben Droughns.

However in the nearly 20 years Bellotti was at Oregon as OC and HC I think he's only had, what, three or four offensive linemen drafted. Getting those blue chip bigs up front is what will get the Ducks from losing in a Rose Bowl appearance every 10-15 years to appearing them in more often, actually winning one for the first time (exaggeration... They do have one Rose Bowl win over Penn in 1917) and maybe being in the national title discussion after week 8.
 
#17
#17
milohimself said:
Oregon's deficiency keeping them from reaching that elite level has been trouble getting elite offensive linemen.

Bellotti definitely got some very high quality skill position guys. If I'm not mistaken all of his QB's at Oregon were drafted. Some of that credit belongs to Jeff Tedford. Then you've got guys like Patrick Chung, Jonathon Stewart, etc. on back to guys like Reuben Droughns.

However in the nearly 20 years Bellotti was at Oregon as OC and HC I think he's only had, what, three or four offensive linemen drafted. Getting those blue chip bigs up front is what will get the Ducks from losing in a Rose Bowl appearance every 10-15 years to appearing them in more often, actually winning one for the first time (exaggeration... They do have one Rose Bowl win over Penn in 1917) and maybe being in the national title discussion after week 8.
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I'd say defensive bigs are more vital to a programs ascension to elite status than offensive bigs. That, in my opinion, is what sets the SEC apart from every other conference in the nation. You can teach someone the necessary tools to be a dominant offensive lineman. It's skilled based. You can't teach 6'4 280lb athletes to have 4.5 speed and amazing lateral quickness. Some have it, others don't.

Oregon's had over achievers here and there(Haloti Ngata), but they're few and far between. They haven't consistently had that defensive line or LB corps that could take over and change a game. That's what Kelly needs to focus on(for that matter, landing an elite WR, ala George Farmer wouldn't hurt), not stockpiling a ton of QB's and RB's. You need balance and depth(not just two positions).
 
#18
#18
Overachievers? Oregon's had two elite DT's that have gone on to smash in the NFL and other solid ones behind them.

But it still boils down to what the Ducks historic condition has been; they are typically loaded at the speed and skill positions and lacking in the positions that win championships.

Agree with you about LB's, but I'd put DE's and OL's higher on the list. Speaking of which, there are a couple quality DE's in Oregon and Washington that the Ducks are probably going to whif on. Where's holding down the local talent? Washington and Oregon State can do a better job of getting what little local talent comes out.

I've said it before; Oregon is not a real national championship contender, no matter how much their fans want to believe they are, because whenever they play a motivated true elite squad, i.e. Boise, Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State, etc., the Ducks simply get smacked in the mouth and beat up. Chip Kelly is going to have to find a way to steal away the type of talent that won Pete Carroll all those championships.

It doesn't appear to be happening yet, and it's unlikely. The Ducks, for the forseeable future, look like a solid top 10-15 type program that should be able to impose their will on lesser competition but simply won't be able to break into the company of Alabama, USC, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Ohio State.
 
#19
#19
milohimself said:
Overachievers? Oregon's had two elite DT's that have gone on to smash in the NFL and other solid ones behind them.
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I didn't mean to group Ngata with the overachievers. He was a premier talent from day one. I'm speaking more towards players like Kenny Rowe and Brandon Bair.

But it still boils down to what the Ducks historic condition has been; they are typically loaded at the speed and skill positions and lacking in the positions that win championships.

Agree with you about LB's, but I'd put DE's and OL's higher on the list. Speaking of which, there are a couple quality DE's in Oregon and Washington that the Ducks are probably going to whif on. Where's holding down the local talent? Washington and Oregon State can do a better job of getting what little local talent comes out.
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I have it DE/DT's, LB's, and OL in that order.

I've to have questioned why the Oregon staff is incapable of locking down the state. Players like Ndamukong Suh, or even more recently, Owamagbe Odighizuwa; Should not be getting snatched up by schools from outside states. It doesn't even make sense. :no:

I've said it before; Oregon is not a real national championship contender, no matter how much their fans want to believe they are, because whenever they play a motivated true elite squad, i.e. Boise, Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State, etc., the Ducks simply get smacked in the mouth and beat up. Chip Kelly is going to have to find a way to steal away the type of talent that won Pete Carroll all those championships.
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I completely agree. I tried to convey that message to Ducks fans during my short time on a Duck board, but I'm wise enough to know when I'm fighting a losing battle. It isn't that Kelly isn't a good coach, or that Oregon is some trash program. It's that talent trumps all. When teams like Alabama, Florida, USC(pre sanction), etc; Are literally more talented than you at practically every position, chances are you're going to get smacked around a bit. It's also the reason those teams will maintain national success and consistently be in the hunt for national titles, whereas Oregon will have to settle for an outside shot a couple times a decade. As you said, until Kelly figures out how to steal and secure talents such as George Farmer, De'Anthony Thomas, and Greg Townsend Jr., Oregon will never make that step into elite status.

It doesn't appear to be happening yet, and it's unlikely. The Ducks, for the forseeable future, look like a solid top 10-15 type program that should be able to impose their will on lesser competition but simply won't be able to break into the company of Alabama, USC, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Ohio State.
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It could happen, but a few things need to occur. There needs to be a PAC-12 network. Not enough Oregon games are nationally televised. I can literally tune in every saturday and watch Florida play on ESPN, CBS, or ABC. Oregon? If it isn't a big game, I have to catch it on JustinTV. Prospects need to be able to watch you on a consistent basis. Secondly, fire Nick Aliotti and get a real defensive coordinator. Either someone young and energetic, or someone with NFL experience. Either win out the rest of this season and make it to the national championship, or win your BCS bowl. The hype generated would have Oregon plastered all over television, and I could potentially see Phil creating a huge Nike campaign in tribute. Prospects need to see that.

With USC down, and seemingly out for the next 5 or so years, someone's going to have to pick up all that talent laying around in California. Oregon can either step up to the plate, or they can remain the Virginia Tech of the west. With USC under probation, it's now or never.
 
#20
#20
Bumi said:
It could happen, but a few things need to occur. There needs to be a PAC-12 network. Not enough Oregon games are nationally televised. I can literally tune in every saturday and watch Florida play on ESPN, CBS, or ABC. Oregon? If it isn't a big game, I have to catch it on JustinTV. Prospects need to be able to watch you on a consistent basis. Secondly, fire Nick Aliotti and get a real defensive coordinator. Either someone young and energetic, or someone with NFL experience. Either win out the rest of this season and make it to the national championship, or win your BCS bowl. The hype generated would have Oregon plastered all over television, and I could potentially see Phil creating a huge Nike campaign in tribute. Prospects need to see that.
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Your dead on here, especially about Aliotti. I've NEVER liked Aliotti and was hopeful that CK's first move as head man was going to be to get rid of him. There were some changes in Defensive coaching staff made in the offseason this year and this seems to be one of his better squads (which probably means he keeps his job) but we need a new DC. Plain and simple. Although Vol fans might not like me saying it, I've always wondered if we could get Wilcox. UO is his alma mater after all. I think he's a solid coordinator and would fit in well.

I don't think Oregon getting to elite status is a lost cause. Although to do it in the near future, we absolutely MUST a) win a BCS Bowl or b) appear in the NC game this year. Both of which I can see happening. But the season is long.
 
#21
#21
"Although Vol fans might not like me saying it, I've always wondered if we could get Wilcox."

That and an abacus might get you where you want to be.
 
#22
#22
spudvol said:
"Although Vol fans might not like me saying it, I've always wondered if we could get Wilcox."

That and an abacus might get you where you want to be.
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It's not exactly ridiculous to think that a guy who was born and raised in Eugene, played for UO and is the son of a UO player might want to come back to coach there. Especially with the current state of affairs in Eugene.
 
#23
#23
It's not exactly ridiculous to think that a guy who was born and raised in Eugene, played for UO and is the son of a UO player might be able to count to eleven.
 
#24
#24
spudvol said:
It's not exactly ridiculous to think that a guy who was born and raised in Eugene, played for UO and is the son of a UO player might be able to count to eleven.
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You could easily argue that it was player error. But even if it wasn't, so what? One bad play and now he's damaged goods?

He shut down the UO spread with BSU. He shut down a lot of teams with BSU. That's enough for me to see past a momentary (if major) gaffe, assuming it was even his fault.

It's all just hypothetical anyways. Oregon seems perfectly content with Allioti calling the shots. Unfortunately.
 
#25
#25
Sounds like nitpicking to me since Allioti's D has given up 7 points in the second half over 5 games. You have a +41 point differential/game, enjoy it while it lasts.
 
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